Music Match-Up #7: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Every once in a while, I come across a song that fits perfectly with a book I’ve read. In this new feature, I’ll tell you about them!

Anna and the French Kiss
by Stephanie Perkins

Welcome to what is unexpectedly becoming “Stephanie Perkins Week” on Snuggly Oranges. *cough* Anyway, who of you does not know about Anna and the French Kiss? Probably no one, right? And most of you have read it. I’ve actually read it twice – most recently a couple weeks ago to get me ready to binge the rest of the Stephanie Perkins books and it was just as fluffy and fantastic the second time around.

The Book

I will say that this is not my ideal romance, nor did I think the book was flawless. Stories about infidelity do make me icky, so I won’t say that St. Clair is the best book boyfriend ever either – but I can say that I fully believe he and Anna belong together. There were a lot of frustrating things standing in the way of that happening, but in their private conversations and soft touches, it’s clear that there’s romance blooming. They even become best friends before anything happens, and I kind of loved that development. (You know, the betrayal and sidelining of Ellie set aside.) There are just so many small moments that put my heart aflutter, so it’s the kind of romance that I’ll happily revisit time after time.

The Song

The song that hit me in the face with Anna/St. Clair feels is Taylor Swift’s “You Are In Love” from her new album, 1989. Now, this is not my favorite song off the album, and ordinarily it likely wouldn’t be the kind of song I’d like at all. The melody is very repetitive, there’s little build, dynamics, or contrast, and it’s easy to tune out. But the lyrics are absolutely perfect. It’s soft spoken, about an undefined relationship – two people who know they feel something but don’t want to make that explicit. It may even be obvious to everyone around them, but still. They have little moments that are so significant: small touches, growing affection… and that is so Anna and St. Clair to me. And the repetitive melody and soft sound actually compliment the story the lyrics are telling perfectly.

Now, I wanted to share my FEEEEEELS about this book-song match in this post, obviously, but sadly I can’t hit you in the face with the official version of the song. Taylor Swift’s battles with Spotify and YouTube limit the options to listen to her music freely. Really absurd, if you ask me. So if you get the chance or have the album – go listen to the song. If not, I did at least find this cover of it to give you an idea of the lyrics/melody:

One look, dark room
Meant just for you
Time moved too fast
You played it back
Buttons on a coat
Light-hearted joke
No proof not much
But you saw enough
Small talk, he drives
Coffee at midnight,
The light reflects
The chain on your neck
He says look up
And your shoulders brushNo proof, one touch
You felt enough

You can hear it in the silence, silence
You can feel it on the way home, way home
You can see it with the lights out, lights out
You’re in love, true love
You are in love

Morning, his place
Burnt toast, Sunday
You keep his shirt
He keeps his word
And for once you let go
Of your fears and your ghosts
One step, not much, but it said enough
You kissed on sidewalks
You fight and you talk
One night he wakes, strange look on his face
Pauses, then says, you’re my best friend
And you knew what it was, he is in love